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1. Dictionary

   Keep

   /kēp/

   

   verb

   • 1. have or retain possession of: "return one copy to me, keeping the other for your files"
   • ▪ put or store in a regular place: "his personal work was kept securely in an upstairs studio" Similar storehousestowkeep a place forput awayplaceputdepositstackpile
   • 2. cause to continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.: "the guidance system keeps the machine on course" Similar remaincontinue to bestaycarry on beinggo on beingpersist in beingnot cease to be
   • ▪ continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.: "I kept quiet while Emily talked on" Similar remaincontinue to bestaycarry on beinggo on beingpersist in beingnot cease to be
   • ▪ continue doing or do repeatedly or habitually: "he keeps going on about the murder" Similar persist ingo onkeep oncarry oncontinuedo something constantlydo something incessantlydo something continuallynot stop doing somethingpersevereOpposite give upstop
   • ▪ (of a perishable commodity) remain in good condition: "fresh ginger does not keep well"
   • ▪ retain one's place in or on (a seat or saddle, the ground, etc.) against opposition or difficulty: "are you able to keep your saddle?"
   • ▪ make (someone) do something for a period of time: "I have kept her waiting too long"
   • ▪ delay or detain; cause to be late: "I won't keep you, I know you've got a busy evening" Similar detaincause to staycause to waitkeep waitingkeep backhold backrestraindelayhold upretardmake lateset backslow downslow uphinderobstructcheckimpedeblockhamperconstrain
   • ▪ continue to follow (a way, path, or course): archaic "the friars and soldiers removed, keeping their course toward Jericho"
   • 3. provide for the sustenance of (someone): "he had to keep his large family in the manner he had chosen" Similar provide forsupportprovide food forprovide sustenance forprovide board forfeedkeep alivemaintainsustainsubsidizefinancetake care oflook afternurturenourish
   • ▪ own and look after (an animal) for pleasure or profit: "they raised pigs and kept a pony or two" Similar breedrearraisefarmownhave as a petkeep as a petlook aftertend
   • ▪ own and manage (a shop or business). Similar managerunownbe the proprietor ofbe in charge ofadministerorganizedirectkeep upmaintainoperatelook aftersuperintend
   • ▪ guard; protect: "the boy keeps the sheep" Similar tendlook aftercare fortake care ofmindwatch overhave charge ofbe responsible forprotectkeep safekeep from harmpreservedefendguardshieldsheltersafeguardsave
   • ▪ support (someone, especially a woman) financially in return for sexual favors: "a kept woman"
   • 4. honor or fulfill (a commitment or undertaking): "I'll keep my promise, naturally" Similar comply withobeyrespectobserveconform toabide bystick toact in accordance withact according tohave regard toheedfollowpay attention todefer totake notice offulfillcarry outact onmake goodbe bound byhonorkeep toredeemkeep faith withstand byadhere toexecutedischargeperformrare:effectuateOpposite breakdisobey
   • ▪ observe (a religious occasion) in the prescribed manner: "today's consumers do not keep the Sabbath" Similar observerespecthonorhold sacredrecognizeacknowledgecelebratemarksolemnizeritualizeceremonializecommemorateOpposite ignoreneglect
   • ▪ pay due regard to (a law or custom): "if you kept small rules, you could break the big ones" Similar observerespecthonorhold sacredrecognizeacknowledgecelebratemarksolemnizeritualizeceremonializecommemorateOpposite ignoreneglect
   • 5. make written entries in (a diary) on a regular basis: "the master kept a weekly journal"
   • ▪ write down as (a record): "keep a note of the whereabouts of each item"

   noun

   • 1. food, clothes, and other essentials for living: "working overtime to earn his keep"
   • ▪ the cost of basic living essentials.
   • 2. charge; control: archaic "if from shepherd's keep a lamb strayed far"
   • 3. the strongest or central tower of a castle, acting as a final refuge.

   Word Origin late Old Englishcēpan ‘seize, take in’, also ‘care for, attend to’, of unknown origin.

   Derivatives

   • 1. keepable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • K

     5

   • E

     1

   • E

     1

   • P

     3

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2. People also ask

   What does keep off mean?

   • 1. to stay away. There are notices round the bomb warning people to keep off; The rain kept off and we had sunshine for the wedding. 2. to prevent from getting to or on to (something). This umbrella isn't pretty, but it keeps off the rain. to continue (doing something or moving).

   Keep - definition of keep by The Free Dictionary

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   What is the difference between keep and detain?

   • keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control. retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss. detain suggests a delay in letting go.

   Keep Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   What is the meaning of keep?

   • To retain possession of. Kept the change; must keep your composure. To continue; go on; persevere or persist. To keep on talking. To take care of, or have and take care or charge of. To have as a supply. Keep spare parts in case of emergency. To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support. Care, charge, or custody.

   Keep Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

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   What does keep a person mean?

   • [transitive] keep somebody/yourself to provide what is necessary for somebody to live; to support somebody by paying for food, etc. He scarcely earns enough to keep himself and his family. [transitive] keep somebody to delay somebody synonym hold up You're an hour late—what kept you? I won't keep you long. I've just got a couple of quick questions.

   keep verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/keep_1

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › keepKeep Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the verb and noun keep, with synonyms, examples, and phrases. Find out how to keep something in your possession, power, condition, or memory, and how to keep someone or something safe, secure, or happy.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishKEEP | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

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   Learn the meaning and usage of the verb and noun keep in English. Find out how to keep something, someone, or yourself in different situations and contexts, with examples and synonyms.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › keepKEEP Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What is a basic definition of keep? Keep means to hold on to something and not let it leave your possession. Keep can also mean to store something in a certain place.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionkeep verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the verb keep in English. Find out how to use keep with different forms, idioms, phrasal verbs and topics, such as not giving back, putting, staying, continuing, keeping a secret, keeping a promise, keeping animals, keeping a shop, keeping somebody, keeping food and more.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › keepKeep - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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   To keep means to have and hold on to something — like to keep your wallet in your pocket. It also means to continue; if you keep hula hooping you’ll break the world record!

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › keepKeep - definition of keep by The Free Dictionary

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and synonyms of the verb keep, as well as its various phrasal verbs and idioms. Find out how to use keep in different contexts and situations, such as keeping a secret, keeping time, or keeping up.

9. www.yourdictionary.com › keepKeep Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word keep as a verb, noun, and idiom. Find synonyms, antonyms, examples, and related words for keep.